Apparatus for the determination of the fluidity of molten metals



Feb. 19, 1946. E. M. cuRRl-E 2,395,254

APPARATUS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE FLUIDITY OF MOLTEN METALS Filed June' 2, 1945 f/WENTQR ATTORNEYS.

's'mrss APPARATUS FOR THE METER w. ATHUN F THE FLUIDHTY @F MOL'IEN METALS Eric Milton Currie, London, England, assignor to The International lilleehanite Metal Company lbiinited, London, England Application June 2, 1945, Serial No. 597,296 lln Great Britain August 18, 19M

2 tllaims. (Cl. 73-432) This invention relates to an apparatus for the metal to be tested, a spiral runway connected determination of the fluidity of molten metal. thereto, said spiral runway having a plurality of Thenecessity of obtaining an approximate measoutlets to indicate the degree of fluidity of the urement of the fluidity of iron in order to demetal.

termine its suitability for a given section is 070- 5- The invention will now be further described vious to any practical foundryman. A detailed by way of example with reference to the accomstudy of defective castings records will bear panying drawing, in which: ample testimony to the fact that many castings Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of an are lost simply because the metal or alloy poured apparatus according to the invention, into the mould was not in a condition suitable in Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus, and for running thin sections or could not be cleansed Fig. 3 is a plan view taken on the line li-A of of contaminated foreign matter picked up in the Fig. l. process of casting. Referring to s the drawing, the test piece is On investigation it is not unusual to find that formed in a mould comprising two oil sand cores the metal melted hot, and appeared to be hot i and 53. The lower half 2 of the mould contains enough in the ladle, and that in consequence aspiral runway 3 having a plurality, for example those responsible felt justifled in proceeding with ten or more, radial outlets t and the upper half i the cast, an explanation which, through it sounds of the mould contains a pouring basin 5 and plausible, gives but little satisfaction for unistrainer core ii. The metal is not poured directly form castings. on top of the strainer core but into a well 7 omp iti n, me al temperature n p ity are at the side, thus allowing greater ease for the the main factors affecting fluidity but these are pouring basin to be kept full. The strainer core always under strict control and can be measured is set well below the top of the outlet from the easily whilst in the ladle, hence the desirability ouring basin o as to allow for a reasonably con- Of inst t t a q c a Practical t w ch stant liquid static head above the strainer. The y be Ca Out the 5 e at y two halves of the core are held together by prior to casting is clearly indicated. The fluidity -weights or by means of simple clamp (not test is in eilect a measure of the efliciency under shown in the drawing) which melting practice is carried out, for if pl'op- The metal passes from the well beneath the erly used it may bring to light many of the short- 3 strainer core to the spiral runway 3 concentric comings relating to furnace, mixture and comwith the outside wall of the core and at regular p t n and purity not ad discernible y intervals the holes a radiate from the spiral to any other means. the outside of the core. These holes provide The an p a d ty t has been in the means of determining, without stripping the us fo nu of years t is not e t e y a core, how far the metal has run inthe concentric isfactory- R l s h v n in on i t nt and spiral, since it will obviously flow out of each th re is, of course. a t lag w n casting the hole in turn as it travels around the spiral. It test piece and determining the lengt of t only remains therefore to decide out of how many p ThiS t me lag is a factor which must holes the metal must flow in order to be suitbe reckoned with when a considerable number of i0 b1 for a given metal section. Thus it may be a -61 e being fed o the m holding that to run a given section it is required that ladle, since it is possible that between the time th nu shah flow out of four holes. With of casting t t pieces and eterm ning the this knowledge tests are taken frequently durlength of t Spiral y Shanks y a been ing casting and immediately the number of holes moulds.

fill d w t m tal a d the ta poured t through which the metal flows falls below four, i casting is stopped and the metal returned or It is an object of the present invention to proput into thicker section work. I

vide an apparatus for carrying out an improved The apparatus may be used with all the outfluidity test. which eliminates the undesirable lets open but in general the correct outlet numtime lag and which gives a promp and usable ber will be determined accordingto the section reading. to be cast and then all the outlets up to this Accordingly, the present invention provides an number should be closed up. If the metal runs as apparatus for the determination of the fluidity far as this outlet, then the castings are fit to of molten metals and alloys, particularly ferrous be poured in the metal from the ladle. If not, it metals, comprising a reservoir for the molten is either poured down or else used for thicker castings which it will run perfectly. In other words, it represents a metal fluidity (composition of metal, purity and temperature) pouring control test.

It willbe understood that provisions may also be made for altering the sizes and length of the runway and number of outlets for either more fluid or less fluid metals.

The runway can be lengthened by making one Q or more spirals in the mould between the botferred, it will be understood that it may be in the upper part if desired.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for the determination of the fluidity of molten metals and alloys which comprises a reservoir for the molten metal to be tested, a spiral runway connected to said reservoir, said spiral runway having a plurality of outlets therein to indicate a degree of fluidity of the metal.

2. An apparatus for the determination of the fluidity of molten metals and alloys which comprises a mould comprising two sand cores, a spiral runway in the lower half of said mould, said spiral runway having a plurality of radial outlets therein to indicate the degree of fluidity of the metal, a pouring basin and strainer core in the upper half of the mould and a well at the side of the strainer core for pouring the metal.

ERIC MILTON CURRIE. 

